This semi-private jet service offers commercial rates along with several luxuries

Private and semi-private flights naturally reduce the hassles associated with public transportation and make flying more often a pleasure versus a struggle. Don’t bother getting to the airport early, going through security checks, or hanging around for your bags. The time savings and convenience for passengers of JSX – the trendy public charter company that primarily operates out of private jet terminals – can be drastic and we’re here for it.

Alex Wilcox, CEO and founder of JSX, discussed the company’s goals at the inaugural media day event. “Our goal is simple: to have our customers be happier when they arrive than when they left,” he said. There is, of course, a cost associated with all that ease of use. A seat on a JSX flight generally costs about the same as a first-class seat on a commercial airline.

Even though the Dallas-based airline has been popular among its fans since its 2016 beginnings, this year marks a significant milestone for the company. Serving “smaller air markets that commercial just can’t do,” as Wilcox puts it, is a crucial part of JSX’s expansion strategy. The airline added seasonal flights to Cabo San Lucas from both Los Angeles and Dallas this winter, broadening its coast-to-coast network to include international service. JSX’s route network has grown to 43 routes, covering 22 major cities across North America.

Onboard Wi-Fi, a long-awaited amenity for devoted JSX passengers, is currently in the process of being introduced. The best part is that SpaceX’s Starlink is hundreds of times quicker than any other in-flight internet option currently available, as noted by Travel + Leisure.

Ten years ago, being online at 35,000 feet felt more like a novelty than a standard amenity for most people. Now, in addition to being the first airline to install gate-to-gate Wi-Fi on all of its planes, JSX will also be the first to use Starlink, Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s internet service, which offers speeds comparable to, if not greater than, what passengers may get at home.

All 21 of JSX’s E-145 aircraft currently have Starlink capabilities, and by the end of May, Wi-Fi should be installed in the remaining 16 E-135 planes.

Two-thirds of Americans live east of the Mississippi, so Wilcox and his team assert that JSX has untapped potential in East Coast flying. The only route that JSX currently offers is a daily service to Miami, and the carrier’s Northeast base is currently White Plains, New York. Portland, Maine, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, should be added to the map this summer.

JSX needs planes in order to expand quickly. To that end, Wilcox says that starting in 2023, a new aircraft will be added to JSX’s fleet every six weeks. Only 37 of the airline’s 77 30-seat Embraer jets are currently in flight.

The cabin on the JSX test flight felt surprisingly new for a 21-year-old Embraer E-145, points out T+L. Overhead storage has been eliminated and new, bright lighting has been installed to create a refreshingly airy atmosphere in the cabin. Every seat has its own power outlet, and the aforementioned Starlink high-speed internet is available at no cost.

The new service concept that JSX has introduced is particularly impressive for “long-haul” flights (over 550 miles). On these longer flights, passengers can expect a “cocktail hour,” hot towels, a cold meal service, a pass of the gourmet snack basket, and a “fresh farewell” mint. Every 15 minutes, the flight attendant provides water to the passengers.

Chicken wraps, thai noodles, and fruit and yogurt parfaits are just a few of the new cold meal options with a Mediterranean twist. In terms of beverages, this quarter’s offerings include a canned peach bellini from Ohza and a cabernet sauvignon from California winery Murphy Goode.

This could be a cool new alternative to consider over commercial travel for folks who typically fly first class.

Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.

If you enjoy our perspective on travel and Black culture, please sign up for our newsletter. You should consider joining our travel club, too. Or maybe write a piece for us about your favorite destination. In other words, let’s stay connected!

This story was originally published March 14, 2023 at 11:46 AM.